Digital Accessibility

Write alt text for pictures and images.

Someone who is blind or visually impaired may use a screen reader to access digital content. When a screen reader arrives at an image, it will read the image’s alternative text, or alt text, which describes what the image shows.

Alt text doesn’t need to describe every feature of the image; instead, it should describe the image’s purpose in context. If an image is only included to be visually appealing, it can be marked as decorative. The article Alt Text for Accessibility provides more information and examples.

For more information and examples, watch the Adding Alt Text to Images section of the Accessibility Essentials video.

Ensure documents and HTML pages are accessible.

Properly formatting documents and HTML pages helps them look consistent and makes them easier to navigate for those using screen readers or keyboard navigation. Most programs and platforms have an accessibility checker to help you format content appropriately. For example, you can use the D2L Brightspace accessibility checker by selecting the accessibility icon within the HTML editor, or Microsoft’s accessibility checker by selecting Check Accessibility under the Review tab within Word or PowerPoint.

Use the following guidelines to make your documents and pages accessible:

• Use sequential page headings
• Ensure readable font size and color contrast
• Use numbered or bulleted lists
• Ensure tables have a header row and avoid merged cells
• Include alt text for all images

For more information and examples, watch the Documents and Pages section of the Accessibility Essentials video.

Ensure videos have accurate captions.

Captions are critical for people with hearing impairments who otherwise would not be able to engage with audio content. Captions are also useful in other situations—for example, someone in a noisy environment may need captions to understand what’s being said.

When recording a video, use a service that allows you to include captions. Delaware Tech employees have access to Microsoft Clipchamp, a video editing tool that will allow you to record a video and generate captions. Regardless of which recording tool you use, you will need to review auto-generated captions for accuracy before you share the video. If you need to record and share an accessible video and aren’t sure where to start, use the following resource: How to Record and Share a Screencast.

For more information and examples, watch the Accurate Captions section of the Accessibility Essentials video.

Review whether third-party resources are accessible.

A third-party resource is an outside resource used in a course, such as content from a textbook publisher or a tech tool linked within course content. Sometimes, these resources are selected at the department level; other times, they may be selected by an individual instructor. If a third-party resource is used in a course, the expectation is that someone has vetted it to ensure it is accessible.

When investigating accessibility, look for a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) or other accessibility information to learn how those using assistive technologies can interact with the content.

For more information and examples, watch the Third-Party Resources section of the Accessibility Essentials video.